Improved compound veneer and ornamental covering- for articles



innit/e11 tat-13$ ROBERT A. ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y

Letters Patent N 96,650, dated Not-ember 9, 1869.

IMPROVED COMPOUND VENEER .AND ORNAMENTAL COVERING FOR ARTICLES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT A. ADAMS, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Veneers, or Thin Ornamental Coverings for Articles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, together with the means by which I manufacture them successfully.

I mix, with two quantities of glue or gclatinc, two different water-colors, the shades being more or less diverse, according to the effect desired.

I print with one of these materials upon plate-glass, or analogous plane and polished surface, and after it 'hasbeen hardened, I flow the other over it, either by pouring i. thereon thinly, 0 applying it with a brush. The glutinous material should be warmed, and the glass may be near the same temperature, but not sufficiently hot to meltthe two colors together.

After the second, which forms 'the ground-color,

has been applied, the whole may be subjected to pressare by a corresponding plate oI glass, or other material, so as to reduce the veneer to athin scale, ,of uniform thickness and absolute'smooth'ness on each side.

Whether this step is taken or not, the lower face, that which was first printed with-the diffcrent colors, is made to serve as the exterior face, when thelvcneer is applied upon an article which it is to ornament.

To use my veneers, -I apply this glue on the back, with a brush or other approved means, and then press the veneer gently upon the work.

My veneer is hard so long as it is kept dry; but when this glue is thus applied on the back, it gradually penetrates and softens the veneer. As the body becomes soft, it may be bent and stretched, so as to apply successfully to veneer very irregular surfaces.

WVork which it has been heretofore absolutely impossible to decorate by veneers, can be coated with any veneers with perfect success, and the work requires but moderate skill.

After the veneer is applied, the exterior is varnished with an oil-varnish-c0pal-varnislI, by preference.

To operate on some work, I raise the temperature and soften the veneer, so as to make it apply more rapidly to the irregularities in the surfaces.

I can apply these veneers to wood variouslycarved, or to castsof plaster, or to moulded putty, or other ornamental and very irregular work, such as is used in window and looking-glass frames, to the legs of pianos, the fronts of clocks, and various other articles.

In printing the pattern upon the glass plate, which is to form the. ornamental work on the veneer, I can use a printing-press, with soft type, or, by preference, a roller, such as has bepn described in former patents to me.

I can ornament, by applying various pictured devices, coats-ot arms, and the like; but I prefer, for a great variety of work, simply to imitate richly-grained woods.

I can roll the dark color upon the glass, and then apply the light color as a gronml-work, or I can reverse the operation; or I can, taking care to obtain a proper register, roll or otherwise print several colors or shades upon the glass before applying the ground or lower coating.

By properly graduating the temperature, and the thinness of the colored glues, I can induce a partial mingling or blended effect upon the whole or certain portions of the work, which may be made very attractive in appearance, and which is entirely unapproachable by any ordinary veneers.

I can print by lithography, or otherwise, upon the face or back of my veneers; and, by making the veneers of white and clear glue, or gelatine, can give a finely-clouded and rich appearance by thus printing upon the back, and allowing it to show through.

I can use marble, or other absolutely smooth and firm material, instead of plate-glass, as the surface on which to mannfiicture my veneers; but care must be taken not to have the veneer adhere strongly thereto. I avoid this, in part, by very thiniy oiling the surface, as, for example, by wiping the glass with an oily cloth.

My invention not only allows the. decoration in a richer and more diversified style than ordinary veneers, and also the ven'cering of more irregular shapes than are ordinarily veneered, butit allows the decoration of all surfaces very cheaply and more rapidly than this is usually eii'ccted.

.Instead of holding the goods in cards fora long time. to insure the adhesion of wood veneers, my Veneers may be stuck firmly and permanently in a very few minutes.

Having now' fully described my invention,

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The elastic veneers, composed of glue, or analogous material, made and ornamented substantially in the manner herein set forth.

ROBERT A. ADAMS. \Vitnesses:

JAMES P. HALL, O. O. Lrvmes. 

